Esther

Chapter 1

1 Now it came1961 to pass in the days3117 of Ahasuerus,325 (this1931 is Ahasuerus325 which reigned,4427 from India1912 even to Ethiopia,3568 over an hundred3967 and seven7651 and twenty6242 provinces:4082)

2 That in those1992 days,3117 when the king4428 Ahasuerus325 sat3427 on5921 the throne3678 of his kingdom,4438 which834 was in Shushan7800 the palace,1002

3 In the third7969 year8141 of his reign,4427 he made6213 a feast4960 to all3605 his princes8269 and his servants;5650 the power2428 of Persia6539 and Media,4074 the nobles6579 and princes8269 of the provinces,4082 being before6440 him:

4 When he showed7200 the riches6239 of his glorious3519 kingdom4438 and the honor3366 of his excellent1420 majesty1420 many7227 days,3117 even an hundred3967 and fourscore8084 days.3117

5 And when these428 days3117 were expired,4390 the king4428 made6213 a feast4960 to all3605 the people5971 that were present4672 in Shushan7800 the palace,1002 both to great1419 and small,6996 seven7651 days,3117 in the court2691 of the garden1594 of the king's4428 palace;1055

6 Where were white,2353 green,3768 and blue,8504 hangings, fastened270 with cords2256 of fine linen948 and purple713 to silver3701 rings1550 and pillars5982 of marble:8336 the beds4296 were of gold2091 and silver,3701 on a pavement7531 of red,923 and blue,8336 and white,1858 and black,5508 marble.8336

7 And they gave them drink8248 in vessels3627 of gold,2091 (the vessels3627 being diverse8138 one3627 from another,) and royal4438 wine3196 in abundance,7227 according to the state3027 of the king.4428

8 And the drinking8360 was according to the law;1881 none369 did compel:597 for so3651 the king4428 had appointed3245 to all3605 the officers7227 of his house,1004 that they should do6213 according to every man's376 pleasure.7522

9 Also1571 Vashti2060 the queen4436 made6213 a feast4960 for the women802 in the royal4438 house1004 which belonged to king4428 Ahasuerus.325

10 On the seventh7637 day,3117 when the heart3820 of the king4428 was merry2896 with wine,3196 he commanded559 Mehuman,4104 Biztha,968 Harbona,2726 Bigtha,903 and Abagtha,5 Zethar,2242 and Carcas,3752 the seven7651 chamberlains5631 that served8334 in the presence6440 of Ahasuerus325 the king,4428

11 To bring935 Vashti2060 the queen4436 before6440 the king4428 with the crown3804 royal,4438 to show7200 the people5971 and the princes8269 her beauty:3308 for she was fair2896 to look4758 on.

12 But the queen4436 Vashti2060 refused3985 to come935 at the king's4428 commandment1697 by his chamberlains:5631 therefore was the king4428 very3966 wroth,7107 and his anger2534 burned1197 in him.

13 Then the king4428 said559 to the wise2450 men, which knew5234 the times,6256 (for so3651 was the king's4428 manner1697 toward6440 all3605 that knew5234 law1881 and judgment:1779

14 And the next7138 to him was Carshena,3771 Shethar,8369 Admatha,133 Tarshish,8659 Meres,4825 Marsena,4826 and Memucan,4462 the seven7651 princes8269 of Persia6539 and Media,4074 which saw7200 the king's4428 face,6440 and which sat3427 the first7223 in the kingdom;4438)

15 What4100 shall we do6213 to the queen4436 Vashti2060 according to law,1881 because5921 834 she has not performed6213 the commandment3982 of the king4428 Ahasuerus325 by the chamberlains?5631

16 And Memucan4462 answered559 before6440 the king4428 and the princes,8269 Vashti2060 the queen4436 has not done wrong5753 to the king4428 only,905 but also to all3605 the princes,8269 and to all3605 the people5971 that are in all3605 the provinces4082 of the king4428 Ahasuerus.325

17 For this deed1697 of the queen4436 shall come3318 abroad3318 to all3605 women,802 so that they shall despise959 their husbands1167 in their eyes,5869 when it shall be reported,559 The king4428 Ahasuerus325 commanded559 Vashti2060 the queen4436 to be brought935 in before6440 him, but she came935 not.

18 Likewise shall the ladies8282 of Persia6539 and Media4074 say559 this2088 day3117 to all3605 the king's4428 princes,8269 which834 have heard8085 of the deed1697 of the queen.4436 Thus shall there arise too1767 much1767 contempt963 and wrath.7110

19 If518 it please2895 the king,4428 let there go3318 a royal4438 commandment1697 from him, and let it be written3789 among the laws1881 of the Persians6539 and the Medes,4074 that it be not altered,5674 That Vashti2060 come935 no3808 more before6440 king4428 Ahasuerus;325 and let the king4428 give5414 her royal4438 estate to another7468 that is better2896 than she.

20 And when the king's4428 decree6599 which834 he shall make6213 shall be published8085 throughout all3605 his empire,4438 (for it is great,7227) all3605 the wives802 shall give5414 to their husbands1167 honor,3366 both to great1419 and small.6996

21 And the saying1697 pleased3190 5869 the king4428 and the princes;8269 and the king4428 did6213 according to the word1697 of Memucan:4462

22 For he sent7971 letters5612 into413 all3605 the king's4428 provinces,4082 into every province4082 according to the writing3791 thereof, and to every376 people5971 after their language,3956 that every man376 should bear8323 rule8323 in his own house,1004 and that it should be published1696 according to the language3956 of every people.5971